Daily News from New York, New York • 240

I I 'Degrassi Jr. High' Has Lessons for Kids and Broadcasters By KENNETH M. CHANKO efore getting to the good news about a seven-year- old young-teen PBS series the 28 episodes of "Degrassi Parents of 10 to 13-year-olds (who were too young to be interested in "Degrassi Junior High" when it originally aired in 1987-89), take note: This could the quintessential back-to-school series for your new seventh and eighth-graders. that's getting a much-deserved reprise, I have a tip for broadcasters with kids programing on the schedule: Why wait until September to debut new "fall" kids shows? For more adult prime-time I I 1 series, sure, but pre-Labor Day premieres of school-kids fare makes a lot of sense. By mid-August, kids are looking for something new, and getting word of mouth circulating early on the hot new series before the new TUNEiW- SUNDAY 12:25 p.m.

(13) Sesame Street Jam A Musical Celebration. Celebrities include Aaron Neville, Maya Angelou and Los Lobos. (CC) MONDAY 12:30 p.m. (NICK) Brave Little Tailor. A boastful tailor is forced to live up to his claims of bravery.

3:30 p.m. (31) Storytime. Kim Karnsrithong reads "My Little Paula Poundstone shares "Dinner at the Panda Palace" and "Chrysanthemum." (CC) TUESDAY 9:30 a.m. (13) Mister Rogers. Processing film; preparations continue for "Josephine the Short-Necked Giraffe." (CC) 6:30 p.m.

(DIS) Betty Boop's Hollywood Mystery. Betty Boop must solve the mystery behind a stolen necklace. WEDNESDAY 9:30 a.m. (21) Kidsongs. The importance of sportsmanship.

2:30 p.m. (31) Kidsongs. Primary colors and techniques of artists. 7:30 p.m. (SHO) Degrassi Junior High.

Voula sneaks out to a dance after her father forbids her to go. THURSDAY 10:30 a.m. (13) Storytime. Lucy reads "Winnie the Ellen DeGeneres shares "The Last Time I Saw Meshach Taylor reads "Eddie and Teddy." (CC) 4:30 p.m. (21) Barney Friends.

"Hola, Mexico!" (CC) FRIDAY 9:30 a.m. (25) Imagination Station. Drawing a castle. 12:30 p.m. (NICK) Golden Goose.

An animated tale about a young boy who helps an old man and is rewarded with a goose that lays golden eggs. SATURDAY 7:00 a.m. (SHO) Bedtime Stories. A young boy utters a naughty word at the dinner table; A boy thinks his parents are strange. (CC) 7:30 a.m.

(2) Nick News. Young survivors of Hurricane Andrew; a 12-year-old bluegrass musician. 8:30 p.m. (31) Fabletown. Tales that teach children about friendship, conflict and resolution.

(CC) i The cast of 'Degrassi Jr. school year can't hurt. Just a little strategic suggestion A sharply written series that captures those often awkward, on-the-cusp-of-adolescence years, "Degrassi Junior High" follows a group of kids through junior high school. (What gives the series, especially when combined with "Degrassi High" and the recent two-hour PBS movie "School's Out," a "28 authentic feel is that we see the actors, who grow from age 12 to 17, mature along with their characters.) Don't worry if you missed last Sunday's episode. Jump in this evening with "The Big Dance," in which newly elected glam class president Stephanie (Nicole Stoffman) and her once-best-friend Voula (Niki Kemeny) approach the social event of the year from very different circumstances.

which I hope will pay off for ABC and its new series "My So-Called Life" (see cover story), which premieres this week. Anyway, Showtime has already brightened the blah days of August television for youngsters. In addition to kicking off the third season of its quality buddy-buddy girls series "Ready or Not" last Sunday, the premium cable station acquired the award-winning series "Degrassi Junior High" and "Degrassi High," co-productions that first aired on PBS. Showtime encored the first episode of "Degrassi Junior High" last Sunday and will air the 42-episode series in its original order Sundays at 5:30 p.m. (to be followed later next year by 12 NEW YORK VUE DAILY NEWS.